Life preserver



Sept. 12, 1944- H. R. TREGILGAS LIFE PRESERVER Filed Aug. 2'7, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept- 12, 1 H. R. TREGILGAS LIFE PRESERVER Filed Aug. 27, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 side wall is folded to provide a downwardly extending cull in the normal use of the life preserver, which provides a double thicknes wall throughout most of the height thereof to guard against the flames. When the occupant of the life preserver is out of the flaming area, this cuff can be unfolded so as to provide an elongated sleeve secured to the life preserver. A draw string is provided at the extremity of this sleeve so that a sack or bag is formed whichis closed at its lower extremity. When the life preserver is in- Verted the occupant can be positioned in this depending sack, providing more comfort for the occupant and minimizing the danger of attack by These and other objects and novel features of In the drawings forming a part of my specifi cation:

Figure l is a perspective view ofthe life preserver in closed position as it would appear resting upon the surface of the water. l

Figure 2 is'a view'similar to Figure 1 showing the life preserver in-erected position. I

Figure 3 is a-verticalsectional view through the life preserver' and the erected wallsthereof,

"Figure 4 illustratesin perspective the life preserver in invertedposition with the lower end of the walls tiedtogether to form a sack or bag. .4

Figure 5 is a vertical section throughthe life preserver in inverted position before the draw string is tightened to close the lower" end thereof.

Figure 6 is a sectional-view through a portion of the wall of the life preserver showing a portion of one of the leversusedto erect thesame.

I Ii and may abut when the two portions I6 and 20 are in alignment.

upon the sling 24 tends to draw the lower ends 23 of the lever I 6 together, thus erecting the sleeve I3 as best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The chain I 5 may be connected to the end 23 of one of the levers I5 so that as the lever l 23 is pulled downwardly the chain I5 will pull ,the clip from the top of the life preserver to allow the same to open up into erected position.

"A skirt 25 is secured at I2 to the life preserver (A andto thesleeve I3. This skirt is designed-to Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 6 sh0wing the wall and lever in par'tiallyerected position. I

Figure 8 isa sectional view through a'pocket in the life preserver used to contain a gas mask orthelikeI- The life preserver 'incll'id'esa circularring of cork Illfor other'bii'oyar'it matenm covered with a suitable covering IIlf' This'covering I I is preferablywater proof and fire proof. Thefmembrs I0 and 'I I may comprisea circular life preserver, such as is in common 'use at the'present time.

' w fMarginally 'secured?' at l2 to the buoyant body A comprising the'- buoyant material In and the sleeve erecting leverswhich willlbedescribedi in detaiL- A ,-pairlof; opposed levers lfi are pivoted to "the esterior surface o f the; ring;shaped life preserver A. i These lever s I6,- extend J within the sleeve I3 andare preferably hinged attIS sothat the upper porti0n 0f the-levers :20 may assume an angle with respectgto'themainportion .of the flames.

A pair of ropes 'or cords 26 are secured to ortposite sides of the life preserver and these cords 26 are connected to a single cord 21. This cord 2I may be provided with a spring 29 if desired, and a handle 30 which may be grasped by the person to occupy the life preserver while jumping from the ship. The cord 21 is of suflicient length to permit the person to occupy the life preserver to hold the cord while jumping into the water, this cord or line 21 forming a guide in entering .thelife preserver from below the surfaceof the water. This spring may be provided levers 16.; This hinge I9jis provided sothat the upper portions 20, ,of the lever" I6 may extend in drawings; :however, the .hinge; gl 9 is arranged so thatqshouldersll ;and22 on the level porti ns tolcushion the pull upon the life preserver as the pers on to occupy the same jumps from the ship .Windows 3|, formed of heat resistant material s ch asjmicaare provided in the sleeve I3 so that "the occupant mayqsee through the same while for theZ- body while travelling through theflafriing only his head is, projecting from the Water. The water will thus provide a considerable protection area.

Vide a pair of flexible tubes 32 and '33 which extend along the inner wall of the sleeve I3 and which extend down into the water. Bulbs or pumps and 35 respectively are provided on'the j lower endsofthe tubes 32 and 33, and spray heads 36 and 31 are provided on the upper ends thereof.

"The spray head 31 is directed upwardly so as to 'intothe interior of the life preserver wherr'water isforced through the tube 33 by the bulb 35. The sprayof water'not only prevents injury to the life .preserver'and to its occupant and helps to cool off the :air and'the occupant, but also raises the "oxygen content within the sleeve I35- "A'waterl-proof pocket 39 may' be provided'on the interior surface of the sleeve I3 to contain a gas mask if it is so desired." This gas'maskimay e used while travelling through the flaming area 7 Infor'tler to keep the life preserver dampened 55 and to prevent injury thereto by charring, I proto prevent the consumption of carbon monoxide. An oxygen source for breathing may also be provided, if it is so desired. A pocket 39'is shown with a double closure 4!! and 4| to effectively seal the contents from moisture.

Folded within the sleeve 1 3 and forming an extension of this sleeve I provide a cuff 4 2. This cufi 42 is merely the upper end of the sleeve [3 folded down into the interior of the chamber formed by erecting the sleeve 53. This cuff 42 serves the double purpose of providing a double wall to protect the occupant of the life preserver when the wall is erected, and to provide an elongation for the sleeve l3 when the life preserver is inverted. After the occupant of the life preserver has passed through the flaming area the cuff 42 is unfolded so as to extend upwardly, extending beyond the wall l3. A hem is formed as indicated at 43 in the marginal edge of the cult 42 and a draw string 44 is provided within this hem. By pulling upon the draw string 44 the end of the cuff 42 may be closed as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings and the life preserver may be inverted. The occupant may then climb into the interior of the life preserver, the sleeve l3 and the extension cuff 42 forming a sack to contain the body of the occupant. This will make the life preserver more comfortable for the occupant, and at the same time will decrease the danger from fish which would be less likely to attack the depending sack than the legs or feet of the occupant.

The life preserver is maintained in the closed position illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings until required for use. .It is then tossed upon the surface of the water, floating in the position shown in Figure 1. While holding the handle 30 on the line 21 the prospective occupant jumps into the water, and using the lines 21 and 26 as guides enters the interior of the closed life preserver. By pulling downwardly on thesling 24 or pulling inwardly on the levers 23 the sleeve I3 is erected into the position shown in Figure 2. The occupant may then rest upon the sling 24 and use his arms to paddle out of the'flaming' area.

When once out of the flaming area the cuff 42 is unfolded into alignment with the sleeve l3 and the draw string 44 is tightened, closing the upper extremity of the wall thus. formed. The life preserver is then inverted and the interior forms a support for the body of the occupant.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation or my life preserver, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A life preserver comprising a buoyant body having an unclosed opening therethrough, and a peripheral open ended flexible sleeve secured to said body encircling said opening, and removable spring clip means engageable about said sleeve to hold the sleeve end tightly bunched together.

2. A life preserver comprising a buoyant body having an unclosed opening therethrough, a

body to encircle the same and extend outwardly therefrom, said skirt comprising a ring of fabric. 4. A life preserver comprising a buoyant body having an opening therethrough accessible from one side of said body, a sleeve secured to the other side of said buoyant body encircling said opening, said sleeve being formed of flexible water resistant material and foldable from a closed position in which the free end of said sleeve is tightly bunched together and said opening is covered to an erected position in which the sleeve is open at the top.

5. A life preserver including a buoyant body having an opening therethrough, an open ended sleeve secured at its lower'end to said body, and angularly spaced pairs of lever means pivotally secured to said body and to said sleeve for urging said sleeve into erected position extending upwardly from said body.

6. A life preserver comprising a buoyant body having an opening therethrough, a sleeve of flexible material secured to said body encircling said opening, a pair of levers secured to said body in opposed relation engaging said sleeve to erect the same from said body, and a sling connecting the lower ends of said levers.

7. A life preserver comprising a buoyant body having an opening therethrough, a sleeve of flexible material having open ends secured to said body encircling said opening, and opposed pairs of levers secured to said body in opposed relation and engaging said sleeve to erect the same from said body. I

8. A life preserver comprising a buoyant body having an opening therethrough, a flexible sleeve -secured to said body encircling said opening and designed to extend upwardly therefrom, and spray means on said body through which water may be sprayed.

9. A life preserver including a buoyant body and means for limiting the pivotal movement of 7 said hinged extremity with respect to said lever means. 7 V

11. A life preserver including'a buoyant body having an unclosed opening therethrough, a flexible open ended sleeve terminally secured to said buoyant body encircling said opening, means holding said sleeve normally closed, and means for erecting said sleeve with respect to said I, body.

HAROLD n. TREGILGASQ 

